U.S. patent number 6,133,745 [Application Number 09/176,053] was granted by the patent office on 2000-10-17 for socket type module test apparatus and socket for the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Bae Ki Lee, Jae Moon Yoon, Sang Chul Yoon.
United States Patent |
6,133,745 |
Yoon , et al. |
October 17, 2000 |
Socket type module test apparatus and socket for the same
Abstract
A socket type module test apparatus can eliminate the problems
which are related to the unstable contact between pins and a module
in a pin type module test apparatus. At the same time, the socket
type module apparatus increases the module test productivity, in
comparison with a manual module test using sockets. An embodiment
of the present invention comprises a transportation unit for
transporting modules; a test unit where the modules are loaded by
the transportation unit and tested; and a main control unit for
supervising a test procedure by providing test signals to the
modules and sorting the module according to test result.
Inventors: |
Yoon; Jae Moon (Asan,
KR), Lee; Bae Ki (Asan, KR), Yoon; Sang
Chul (Asan, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(KR)
|
Family
ID: |
19524697 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/176,053 |
Filed: |
October 20, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 13, 1997 [KR] |
|
|
97-59876 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
324/750.25;
324/73.1; 361/801; 324/756.02; 324/757.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R
1/0408 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01R
1/02 (20060101); G01R 1/04 (20060101); G01R
031/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;324/755,758,73.1,158.1
;361/801 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Metjahic; Safet
Assistant Examiner: Nguyen; Jimmy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Skjerven Morrill MacPherson LLP
Millers; David T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A module test apparatus comprising:
a transportation unit that transports a module;
a test unit which comprises:
a socket comprising a socket body, a slot to which the module is
inserted, a pair of guide openings, which are formed on respective
transverse sides of the socket body and extend to respective ends
of the slot, and a plurality of socket contacts along inner walls
of the slot for electrical connection to the module;
a test board on which the socket is placed, the test board
inputting and outputting test signals to the module through the
socket contacts;
a base block on which the test board is placed;
an alignment part which is on the base block, the alignment part
aligning and supporting the module when the transportation unit
loads the module to the socket;
an inserting part which is on the base block, the inserting part
inserting and thus electrically connecting the module to the
socket; and
a detaching part which is on the base block, the detaching part
detaching the module from the socket, wherein a portion of the
detaching part extends from outside of socket to the slot through
the guide opening; and
a main control unit that supervises a test procedure by providing
test signals to the module in the socket and making a judgment of
whether the module passes the test.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detaching part
comprises:
a detaching bar which extends from outside of socket to the slot
through the guide opening;
a fixing axle which pivotally fixes the detaching bar; and
a cylinder which drives the detaching bar to move, wherein the
module sits on a tip of the detaching bar so that both ends of
bottom edge of the module touch a top side of the detaching
bar.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tip of the
detaching bar touches an outer side bottom edge beyond an outermost
contact of the socket.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insertion part
comprises:
an insertion base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a pressing cylinder which is on the insertion base, the pressing
cylinder having a vertical pressing rod, and
a pressing bar which is on the vertical pressing rod, wherein the
pressing bar moves down by descending the pressing rod and pushes
the module into the slot.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a buffering member
is attached to the pressing bar where the pressing bar contacts the
module.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alignment part
comprises:
an alignment base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a connection bar which is on the alignment base, and
an alignment bar which is connected to the connection bar, the
alignment bar having a recess at the endmost part thereof, wherein
the alignment bar moves forward and backward with respect to the
socket, surrounds side edge of the module within the recess, and
supports the module,
wherein the connection bar transfers the movement of the alignment
base to the alignment bar.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the alignment bar is
made of a polymeric material.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transportation
unit comprises:
a loading picker that loads the module to the socket, and
an unloading picker that unloads the module from the socket.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the socket further
comprises a trench formed around a mouth of the slot for guiding
the module into the slot.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detaching part
comprises:
a detaching bar which extends from outside of socket to the slot
through the guide opening;
a fixing axle which pivotally fixes the detaching bar; and
a cylinder which drives the detaching bar to move, wherein the
module sits on a tip of the detaching bar so that both ends of
bottom edge of the module touch a top side of the detaching
bar.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the tip of the
detaching bar touches an outer side bottom edge beyond an outermost
contact of the socket.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the insertion part
comprises:
an insertion base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a pressing cylinder which is on the insertion base, the pressing
cylinder having a vertical pressing rod, and
a pressing bar which is on the vertical pressing rod, wherein the
pressing bar moves down by descending the pressing rod and pushes
the module into the slot.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a buffering member
is attached to the pressing bar where the pressing bar contacts the
module.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the alignment part
comprises:
an alignment base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a connection bar which is on the alignment base, and
an alignment bar which is connected to the connection bar, the
alignment bar having a recess at the endmost part thereof, wherein
the alignment bar moves forward and backward with respect to the
socket, surrounds a side edge of the module within the recess, and
supports the module,
wherein the connection bar transfers the movement of the alignment
base to alignment bars.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the alignment bar
is made of a polymeric material.
16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transportation
unit comprises:
a loading picker that loads the module to the socket, and an
unloading picker that unloads the module from the socket.
17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the socket further
comprises a pair of insertion holes formed at the end of the trench
in integration with the slot for aligning and guiding the module
into the slot.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the detaching part
comprises:
a detaching bar which extends from outside of socket to the slot
through the guide opening;
a fixing axle which pivotally fixes the detaching bar; and
a cylinder which drives the detaching bar to move, wherein the
module sits on a tip of the detaching bar so that both ends of
bottom edge of the module touch top side of the detaching bar.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the tip of the
detaching bar touches an outer side bottom edge beyond an outermost
contact of the socket.
20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the insertion part
comprises:
an insertion base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a pressing cylinder which is on the insertion base, the pressing
cylinder having a vertical pressing rod, and
a pressing bar which is placed on the vertical pressing rod,
wherein the pressing bar moves down by descending the pressing rod
and pushes the module into the slot.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a buffering member
is attached to the pressing bar where the pressing bar contacts the
module.
22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the alignment part
comprises:
an alignment base which is on the base block and moves forward and
backward with respect to the socket,
a connection bar which is on the alignment base, and
an alignment bar which is connected to the connection bar, the
alignment bar having a recess at the endmost part thereof, wherein
the alignment bar moves forward and backward with respect to the
socket, surrounds a side edge of the module within the recess, and
supports the module,
wherein the connection bar transfers the movement of the alignment
base to alignment bars.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the alignment bar
is made of a polymeric material.
24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the transportation
unit comprises:
a loading picker that loads the module to the socket, and
an unloading picker that unloads the module from the socket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a module test apparatus.
Particularly, this invention relates to a socket type module test
apparatus including a transportation unit which automatically loads
and unloads modules for testing and provides stable mechanical and
electrical contact between modules and test sockets during test.
This invention also relates to a socket used for the module test
apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A number of semiconductor devices are often combined on a single
substrate and used as a module to improve the performance of the
system that uses the semiconductor devices. For example, memory
integrated circuit chips mounted on a printed circuit board form a
memory module. A module generally comprises a number of
semiconductor devices and a substrate. The semiconductor devices
are mounted on one side or both sides of the substrate and are
electrically interconnected by wiring patterns formed in the
substrate. The substrate typically contains a number of external
terminals extending from the wiring patterns along an edge of the
substrate.
Modules are tested to verify their characteristics. Two types of
module tests are generally used. One is a manual test where a
module is manually loaded to and unloaded from a socket. The other
is an automatic test which uses an automatic module handling unit
and test pins.
In the manual test, an operator inserts modules by hand into
sockets that are connected to a control unit and tests the modules
by using the control unit. The control unit generates test signals,
sends the signals to the modules, and evaluates the characteristics
of the modules. After finishing the test, the operator removes the
modules and classifies the modules according to the test results.
This manual test method offers a stable contact mechanism between
sockets and external terminals of modules. However, the manual test
method also has several disadvantages. Among them are low test
productivity due to the manual handling and the risk of human error
in classifying the modules.
In contrast, the automatic test method increases module test
productivity and reduces the possibility of human error. In this
method, test signals are transferred to modules via test pins,
so-called Pogo pins, not via a socket. An automatic module tester
comprises a pin block which is somewhat similar to a socket, and
the pin block has a number of test pins installed at positions
where the pins contact external terminals of modules. Automatic
testers use a test pin block instead of a socket because the test
pin block allows easy and no-force insertion of modules, whereas
the socket requires external force for insertion of modules.
A module tester using test pins will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 5. Test pin type module tester 100 comprises a main
control unit 90, a test unit 10, and a transportation unit 20.
Tester 100 further comprises a supply tray 32 which contains
modules to be tested, an output tray 34 which collects the modules
that passed a module test, and a collection bin 36 which collects
modules that failed to pass the test.
Main control unit 90 controls test unit 10 and transportation unit
20. Main control unit 90 tests module 40 by generating and sending
test signals to module 40 through test pins 14 which contact
external terminals 41, judges whether module 40 passed the test,
and does the loading and unloading of module 40 at pin block 12 by
using transportation unit 20 (FIG. 2). In FIG. 1, reference numeral
92 refers to transmission lines through which signals are
transmitted from main control unit 90 to test unit 10 and
transportation unit 20.
Test unit 10 comprises a base block 16 which is composed of two pin
blocks 12 which have plural test pins 14 for contacting external
terminals 41 of module 40. As depicted in FIG. 4, which is a
sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3, a test pin 14
is composed of a contact pin 19, a spring 17 and a sheath 13, and
thereby, contact pin 19 can move elastically in and out of sheath
13. A tip 19a of contact pin 19 which contacts external terminal 41
of module 40 is embossed for good contact.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, transportation unit 20 comprises a
loading picker 24 for transporting the modules to be tested from
supply tray 32 to pin blocks 12, and a unloading picker 26 for
transporting the tested modules from pin blocks 12 to output tray
34 or collection bin 36.
The test procedure using module tester 100 will be explained
referring to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, loading picker 24 picks up module
40 in supply tray 32 and transports module 40 to a position above
pin block 12 (FIG. 2). Then, loading picker 24 moves downward and
places module 40 between pin blocks 12, pin blocks 12 move toward
each other so that test pins 14 contact external terminals 41 of
module 40, and the test is carried out (FIGS. 3 and 4). After the
test is finished, unloading picker 26 picks up tested module 40,
and pin blocks 12 return to their original positions to release
module 40 (FIG. 5). Thereafter, unloading picker 26 goes up and
transports tested module 40 to output tray 34, or to collection bin
36.
The automatic test using test pin type module tester can accomplish
higher test productivity than the manual test. However, a contact
to external terminals of module by test pin is less stable than the
contact by socket, and the unstable contact may produce noise
during test. That is, the unstable contact during test may produce
incorrect test results. In addition, while the lifetime of a socket
is about five hundred thousand tests, the lifetime of a test pin is
about fifty thousand tests.
Therefore, a module test apparatus is required to accomplish high
test productivity, stable contact to module, and low maintenance
cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a socket type module test apparatus
comprising a transportation unit for transporting modules, a test
unit, and a main unit for controlling a test procedure. The test
unit comprises a socket, a test board on which the socket is
placed, a base block on which the test board is placed, an
alignment part, an insertion part, and a detaching part.
The detaching part is placed on the base block and releases modules
after test is done. The detaching part pushes the tested module
upward from the bottom of the module. This is accomplished by the
movement of the components of detaching part, which includes
detaching bars, fixing axles and cylinders. Preferably, the
detaching bars are placed so that the detaching bars push both ends
of the module.
The insertion part comprises an insertion base which is placed on
the base block, a pressing cylinder which is placed on the
transporting base, and a pressing bar. Each insertion part pushes
down a module to insert the module into the socket. Preferably, a
buffering member is attached to the side of the pressing bar
touching the module during insertion and testing.
The alignment part comprises: an alignment base which is placed on
the base block; a connection bar which is placed on the alignment
block; and an alignment bar which is connected to the connection
bar. The alignment bar has a recess at its end to contain and
support the side edge of module. Preferably, the alignment bar is
made of a polymeric material.
The transportation unit comprises a loading picker for loading a
module to the socket and an unloading picker for unloading a module
from the socket.
The present invention also provides a socket for the socket type
module test apparatus. The socket comprises: a socket body; a slot
to which a module is inserted; a trench formed around a mouth of
the slot, the trench guiding a module to be easily inserted into
the slot; insertion holes, each of which is formed at respective
ends of the trench in integration with the slot for supporting a
module during insertion; guide openings, each of which is formed on
respective ends of the socket body for detaching bar; and a
plurality of contacts placed along inner walls of the slot to make
contacts to the external terminals of a module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the following
detailed description, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a test pin type module test
apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a module in FIG. 1 being
transported to a pin block;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a module being in contact with test
pins;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view a module being unloaded from the pin
block;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a socket type module test apparatus
according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a test unit in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a module being transported to a
test unit in the apparatus of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a detaching part and a socket in
the apparatus of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a module test procedure using a socket
type module test apparatus;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11--11 in FIG.
8;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing how a module is aligned by an
alignment unit;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13--13 in FIG.
12;
FIGS. 14 to 16 are perspective views showing the movement of an
insertion part when a module is inserted to a socket;
FIGS. 17 to 18 are perspective views showing the movement of a
detaching part when a module is inserted to a socket;
FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19--19 in FIG.
18;
FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are perspective views showing how a module is
detached from a socket;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22--22 in FIG. 21;
and
FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing how a detached module is being
unloaded by an unloading picker.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An embodiment of the present invention, a socket type module test
apparatus 200 (hereinafter, "module test apparatus"), will be
described with reference to the attached drawings.
With reference to FIG. 6, a socket type module test apparatus 200
generally comprises a main control unit 190, a test unit 110, a
transportation unit 120, a supply tray 132 in which modules to be
tested 140 are contained, an output tray 134 which collects modules
140a that passed the module test, and a collection bin 136 which
collects modules 140b that failed to pass the module test.
Main control unit 190 controls the operation of test unit 110 and
transportation unit 120, tests modules 140 by providing test
signals to modules 140, and judges whether modules 140 passed the
test. Reference numeral 192 refers to transmission lines through
which signals are transmitted from main control unit 190 to test
unit 110 and transportation unit 120.
Modules 140 are transported from supply tray 132 to test unit 110
and are tested. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, test unit 110 comprises
a base block 116, on which plural test boards 118 are installed,
and insertion-detaching blocks 180. On test board 118, sockets 112
are mounted. Test boards 118 are positioned across an opening area
111 of base block 116. Insertion-detaching blocks 180 comprise: an
alignment part 160 for aligning and supporting modules 140
transported to sockets 112; an insertion part 150 for inserting the
aligned modules 140 into sockets 112; and a detaching part 170 for
detaching the tested modules 140 from sockets 112.
In FIG. 6, transportation unit 120 transports modules 140 from
supply tray 132 to sockets 112 of test unit 110 and transports
tested modules 140 to output tray 134 or collection bin 136.
Transportation unit 120 comprises: a loading picker 124 for
transporting modules 140 from supply tray 132 to sockets 112; an
unloading picker 126 for transporting the tested modules 140 from
sockets 112 to output tray 134 or collection bin 136; and an X-axis
rail 122 and a Y-axis rail 128 for guiding the movement of loading
picker 124 and unloading picker 126 in test apparatus 200. Y-axis
rail 128 is placed along the side of both supply tray 132 and test
unit 110. X-axis rail 122 is placed perpendicular to Y-axis rail
128 and moves along the longitudinal direction of Y-axis rail 128.
Loading picker 124 and unloading picker 126 are installed at
regular intervals under X-axis rail 122. Loading picker 124 and
unloading picker 126 move along X-axis rail 122. The transportation
mechanism of transportation unit 120 can be the transportation unit
that is found in the Model MR-6000 and MR-7000 Series available
from Mirae Corporation in Korea.
In the present embodiment, two loading pickers 124 and two
unloading pickers 126 are placed at the same intervals as four
sockets 112 so that pickers 124 and 126 can be just above
respective sockets when transporting unit 120 moves to test unit
110 to load and to unload modules 140. In FIG. 8, two of four
pickers 124 and 126 are shown, where one is a loading picker 124
and the other is an unloading picker 126.
Now test unit 110 will be explained in detail with reference to
FIGS. 7, 9, and 11. Socket 112 has a rectangular hexahedral body
113. At the center of socket 112, a slot 119 is formed in the
longitudinal direction (FIGS. 7 and 9). Along the inner walls of
slot 119, a number of socket contacts 114 are projected (FIG. 11),
and these contacts 114 contact external terminals 141 of module 140
during test. As shown in FIG. 9, a trench 115 is formed around the
mouth of slot 119. Trench 115, which is wider than slot 119, guides
module 140 into slot 119. In FIG. 11, socket contacts 114 protrude
from the inner walls of slot 119. Socket contacts 114 and slot 119
can be the same as those in the module socket of the Model
JTI-TS168 available from John's Tech International Company in
U.S.A.
Since both ends of socket 112 are symmetrical, only one side of
socket 112 will be described. Socket 112 has an insertion hole 117
at an end of slot 119. Insertion hole 117 is separated from trench
115 by a pair of vertical protrusions, which are called "supporting
parts" 146, and is integrated with end portion of slot 119.
Insertion hole 117 and supporting parts 146 support a side edge
148a of module 140 (FIG. 12). A guide opening 173 is formed at the
transverse side of the socket body 113 and extends to slot 119. A
detaching bar 171 of detaching part 170 sits inside guide opening
173. Around insertion hole 117, a guide slant 147, which is an
extension of trench 115, is formed (FIG. 11) for guiding module 140
into slot 119 during module insertion. The length of slot 119
including insertion hole 117 is longer than that of module 140, and
the width of slot 119 and insertion hole 117 is greater than the
thickness of module 140. Since the portion of module 140 within
socket 112 is smaller than that outside socket 112, an alignment
part 160 provides additional support for module 140, as shown in
FIG. 12.
With reference to FIGS. 9 and 11, detaching part 170 comprises
detaching bar 171 sitting within guide opening 173 and extending to
insertion hole 117 a vertical cylinder 176, and a detachment
connection bar 172 which connects detaching bar 171 and vertical
cylinder 176. Further, up-and-down movement of cylinder 176 causes
detaching bar 171 to rotate around a fixing axle 178 and thereby,
results in up-and-down movement of the tip of detaching bar
171.
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 11 and 12, alignment part 160 aligns and
supports modules 140 which is loaded in sockets 112. In FIG. 7,
insertion part 150 in the upper side of test unit 110 is omitted in
order to depict alignment part 160 completely. Alignment part 160
comprises an alignment base 161 which is connected to a drive
cylinder (not shown), an alignment bar 165 and a alignment
connection bar 163 which connects alignment bars 165 to alignment
base 161. The drive cylinder drives alignment base 161 to move back
and forth along an alignment block opening 169 of base block 116.
This movement is transferred to alignment bars 165 by alignment
connection bar 163. Alignment bars 165 move back and forth toward
side edge 148a of module 140. Since alignment bar 165 touches side
edge 148a during insertion and testing of module 140, alignment bar
165 is preferably made of a polymeric material to minimize the
damage arising when alignment bar 165 touches module 140. The end
of alignment bar 165 has a recess 167 to contain side edge 148a of
module 140 (FIG. 12).
Insertion part 150 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8
and 14. Insertion part 150 pushes module 140 aligned by alignment
bar 165 downward to insert module 140 into socket slot 119.
Insertion part 150 comprises an insertion base 157, a pressing
cylinder 153, a pressing rod 156, and a pressing bar 151. Pressing
bar 151 comprises a slide bar 158 fixed to the pressing rod 156 and
a pressing block 154. Insertion base 157 moves along insertion base
opening 159 of base block 116 (FIG. 7). Pressing cylinder 153
drives pressing rod 156 to move up and down, and moves pressing bar
151 up and down. Since pressing block 154 touches top edge 148b of
module 140 when insertion part 150 presses down module 140, a
buffering member 152, made of a resilient material such as rubber,
is provided beneath pressing block 154 to protect top edge 148b of
module 140 from damage. FIGS. 14 to 16 show the operation of
insertion part 150 step by step. FIG. 14 shows insertion part 150
moving toward module 140, FIG. 15 shows pressing bar 151 pressing
top edge 148b of module 140 down, and FIG. 16 shows completion of
insertion of module 140 into slot 119 of socket 112.
Now a module test procedure using module test apparatus 200 will be
explained with reference to FIGS. 10 to 23. FIG. 10 is a flowchart
of the module test procedure.
First, loading picker 124 picks up module 140 in supply tray 132
and transports it to a position above a socket 112 [step 210], goes
down toward socket 112, and releases module 140 so that the side
edge of module 140 is supported by supporting part 146 and fits in
insertion hole 117 [step 220]. Alignment bar 165 moves toward side
edge 148a of module 140 and surrounds side edge 148a within recess
167 formed at the tip of alignment bar 165 to align module 140 with
slot 119 [step 230].
Next, insertion of module 140 to slot 119 [step 240] will be
explained with reference to FIGS. 14 to 19. Insertion part 150
moves towards socket 112 so that pressing bar 151 is positioned
over the top edge 148b of module 140 (FIG. 14). Then, as depicted
in FIG. 15, pressing bar 151 goes down by the downward movement of
pressing rod 156 and pushes module 140 into slot 119, so that
external terminals 141 of module 140 contact socket contacts 114.
FIGS. 17 to 19 show the movement of detaching part 170 in step 240.
As shown in FIG. 19, bottom edge 148d of module 140 sits on the tip
of detaching bar 171.
After the completion of insertion, the module test is performed by
control unit 190 [step 250]. After the test begins, transportation
unit 120 moves to supply tray 132, picks up new module 140 to be
tested, moves back to above of sockets 112, and waits until the
test ends. After the test is completed, tested module 140 is
unloaded from socket 112 by detaching part 170 and unloading picker
126.
The step of detaching module 140, after test, from socket 112 [step
260] will be described with reference to FIGS. 20-22. Pressing bar
151 of insertion part 150 goes up and moves backward from module
140 (FIG. 22). Then, vertical cylinder 176 moves downward, so that
detaching bar 171 rotates clockwise around fixing axle 178 and the
tip of detaching bar 171 pushes up bottom edge 148d of module 140
from slot 119.
Finally, the step of unloading module 140 from socket 112 [step
270] will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 6 and 23. Unloading
picker 126 which had stayed over module 140 goes down and picks up
side edge 148c of module 140. Alignment bar 165 moves back from
module 140, and unloading picker 126 moves upward. Then, loading
picker 124 having new module to be tested loads and inserts the
module to socket 112, and test of the newly inserted module begins.
During the test, transportation unit 120 moves, so that unloading
picker 126 places module 140 to output tray 134 or collection bin
136, and loading picker 124 picks up another module to be tested.
Transportation unit 120 moves back to test unit 110, and waits for
the completion of the test.
The module test and sorting process is automatically performed by
repeating the above processes. According to this invention, stable
contact between module and test apparatus was achieved by using
sockets, and high test productivity was achieved by employing the
module transportation unit and the module insertion-detaching
unit.
While this invention has been described with reference to an
illustrative embodiment, this description is not intended to be
construed in a limiting sense, and it will be appreciated that
various modifications and alterations might be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *